Method of cleansing milk receptacles



Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

IRA H. KENDALL, OF POTSDAM, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF CLEANSING MILK RECEPTACLES.

No Drawing. Original application filed April 11, 1922, Serial No.551,570. Divided and this application filed October 19, 1923. Serial No.669,560.

their milk to dairies, and the like. However,-

my invention appliesto receptacles intended for the transportation notonly of milk, but of milk products, such as ice-cream, etc.

It has heretofore been considered neces-' sary to cleanse suchreceptacles with a solution containing soap or similar substances sothat the solution was of an alkaline character. In fact, in manylocalities, the rules of the local authorities have compelled the use ofalkaline washing solutions.

I have discovered that the use of cleansing mixtures of a strongalkaline character is unnecessary and indeed objectionable. If a can hasbeen emptied in a dairy, it usually contains a certain amount of milkresidue on the walls thereof. When the can is washed with an alkalinefluid, I believe that this residue reacts with the alkaline fluid so asto produce a substance which can be rinsed out of the can only withgreat difficulty.

As a result of this, many cans are not sufficiently washed or rinsed atthe dairy and the imperfectly washed cans are given a decided odorbecause of this. Although it is against the rules of nearly alllocalities to have the farmer wash the cans, after they have beenreturned by the dairy, due to the fact that the washing methods of afarmer can not be properly supervised and are often unsanitary, thefarmer very often washes his cans at his farm in defiance of localregulations so as to remove this objectionable odor, so that the cansare often in an unsanitary condition when they are refilled for thedairy.

In addition the use of an alkaline washing fluid discolors and darkensthe cans which makes their appearance decidedly objectiona e.

According to my invention, a mixture of water which is free from anyalkaline reaction, together with pure sand is employed. This mixture ispreferably employed by 'forcing the water mixed with the sand in theform of a powerful solid sheet or sheets. The sheet'or sheets are causedto impinge upon the wall of the can while they are 1n the solidcondition, that is, before they have broken up into a shower or spray.

I have found by practical experience that in washing an ordinary milkcan, which is about 12 inches in diameter, it is suflicient to use astream of water under a pressure of ten pounds per square inch, saidstream of water having a total cross section of about 1% inches. Iprefer to use a plurality of such jets as shown in my previously filedapplication, Serial Number 551,570 filed on the 11th day of April, 1922,of which this is a division.

By causing the water to impinge upon the wall of the can while it is ina solid form, the sheets of water impart a very powerful blow to thewall of the can and they spread out in all directions at the point wherethey strike the can so that the dirt or milk residues are subjected to avery powerful cleansing action. I preferv to make each jet of water(mixed with sand) of an annular form so that said jet strikes a completeannular portion of the can. Bymoving the jet and the can with respect toeach other, the entire surface of the can can be thus acted upon. Ofcourse, I do not limit this application to the use of a jet of waterwhich forms a complete annulus. The use of a jet or jets as beforementioned obviates theneed for the use of cleansing brushes or the llke,which present solid surfaces to which the milk residues can cling. Thisis an important advantage of my invention because if a brush: or thelike is used upon a series of cans, it has been shown by experience that.a proper rinsing of the brush or the like is impracticable, so that thebacteria from the more dirty'cans are carried over to the less dirtycans.

With the use of the best cleansing devices,

employing brushes and alkaline fluids, it has been considered thatfirst-class results have been secured if a washed can shows a I count of10000 bacteria. Practical experience has shown that in cleansing cans210- I cording to my method a countof 1500 can be maintained as anaverage performance and that counts as low as 400 have been secured, andeven sterile cans at tunes.

I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, but I do notwish to be limited to the specific abrasive before mentioned and it isobvious that other changes could be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

A method for removing milk "residues from the walls of metal receptaclesfor milk products which consists in forcing upon the inner wall of saidreceptacle a mixture of water and abrasive, said mixture beingsubstantially'non-alkaline and being projected I upon sald wall withsuflicient force to remove the deposits therefrom.

IRA H. KENDALL.

